Fruit-drying apparatus



April 21,1925. 153.41192 W. H. SOLLE FRUIT DRYING APPARATUS Filed May 19, 1924 2 sheets-shea 1 ff' T 1MM/MM April 21, 192s.

w. H. SOLLE FRUIT DRYING APPARATUS Filed May l9, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n. 6 m www a 0 M0 Nm. mw. hun. INN.. QN.

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Patented Apr, 2.1, 192:5.

e. UNITED stares eric.

WALTER ii. senta, or winnen, oaseoiv.

FRUIT-DRYING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 19, 1924. Serial No. 714,448.

To all whom it may conce/m Be it known that I, WALTER H. SoLLE, `a citizen of the United States, residing at llVilbur, in the county of Douglas and State of Oregony have invented'certain new and Vuseful Improvements in Fruit-Drying Apparat-us, of which the following is al speciiication. y

My invention relates to fruit driers.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the above mentioned character, well adapted for drying prunes, or other small fruit, while not necessarily restricted to this use. Y

A further object of the invention Ais to provide means whereby heated air admitted into the drying chamber first acts upon the fruit in the most dried condition, and subsequent-ly acts upon the remaining fruit, in succession, as the fruit increases in dampness, whereby injury tothe damp fruit, which frequently occurs when such damp fruit is subjectedto air heated at an excessive temperature, is' avoided. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide means for angularly adjusting -the discharge of theheated air from the blower, whereby it will be properly distributed, with respect to the fruit, for effecting a proper application of the heated air.

A further object of 'the invention is to provide means for agitatingor mixing the heated air, prior' to its discharge into theV drying chamber.

A further object of -the invention is to provide means for regulatingl thereturn of the. air from the drying chamber to the heating chamber.

@ther objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed y to designate like parts throughout the same;

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view through a drying apparatus embodying my invention.V

Figure 2 is an end elevation ofthe same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the drum supporting s piders., i y

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5--5 of Figure l, and, Y

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the adjustable' fan casing or drum.

1n the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 10 designates a casing, formed of sheet metal or any other suitable material. This casing is divided into an upper drying chamber 11, and a lower heating chamber 12, by means of a partition or wall 13, which may have heat insulation, as shown at 111. Access is had to the forward end of the drying chamber 11 by means of a door 14, and a door 15 provides access to the rear end of this drying chamber. `Within the drying chamber are longitudinally inclined tracks 16, slidably receiving thereon trays 1T, which hold the prunes or other fruit to be dried. These trays may preferably be arranged in a staggered relation, to permit of the discharge of the heated air therebetween, and the trays are suitably spaced vertically' to permit of this discharge. As the fruit is dried, the traysy are pushed down the inclined tracks and removed from the rear end of the drying chamber. 1

Mounted within the forward end of the heating chamber 12, is a furnace V18, having its smoke pipe 19 discharging from the rear end thereof through the side wall of the casing 10. Fuel is fed into the forward end of the furnace through doors 2O or the like, as is customary. This furnace is spaced from the side walls of the heating chamber 12 and from the top wall thereof, whereby the air may surround the same and become heated thereby, the furnace of course heating the entire chamber 12. Fresh air may be supplied in the chamber 12 at the forward end of the furnace, through an opening 21, which may be covered and uncovered by a slide 22. The heated air from the heating chamber 12 passes to the rear end of the dryingv chamber 11, in a manner to be described and then. circulates forwardly through this drying chamber, in cont-act with the pans, and discharges into the for-y ward end of this drying chamber. This heated air may now pass upwardly through a stack 23, in communication with the for-V ward end of the chamber 11, if the valve or damper 24 is partly or wholly open, but if this damper is closed, the aircannot escape through the stack 28. This air may. be returned into the forward end of the heating ing chaniher. l), near Vf he drinn is provided in itsiip `with an elongated slot 32', which extends for theni', hat hy nieans of a inotor 28. .'ihe purpose of this:

inaii is to thoroughlav irritate and inizi the 3 l. ,1 Y air- Within therear portion` or tiie heating chamber, wheiehy its heat andnioistiire will 1 -be evenly.distributedtherein, heitere the discharge. of they air `at the yrear end oi the drying` chain-hei' il.

The rear end ofthel partition -orahottoni terminates at the rear end ot the ti'aelrs i6, providing a relatiyelyiiide opening 29. Arranged-Vithin the lrear end oi' the. -heat Walls oi'the heating chaiiiher l2, and are `rotatabl f sumortedfii'ithiii the guide `rines i f {'D 3l, or open spiders 32, whereby the air niay enter thisjdriiin, through the ends tlieii'eoi.

siihstaiitiallythe entire length oit the Width 'of thedrying chaniher il, or he pans held therein.

drain is 'to' provide .iii

The `function of the. rotatable jiist thev direction 10i discharge oit the: air

,through the opeiiingff, so 'thateiiclr direc tion of disehe ge; mayA he regulated withV 1respect tto. the limertical layers et `the'pans.

vt -is obvious that the-pans nearer the hottoni, would.ordinarly `receive the roost .severetreatineiit from the ineoinii'ielieated sta'iitly diinoted against ly adgiisting i siieii ige, it Ymay i he siihstaiiair, it. it Were `con .fins direetion oi dis-elia .tially unitorinlyaapplied to all oit the yertiH eal layers. ,The drinn 30 he `turned hy any suitable ineaiis,' and for this purpose,

I lseeiire segmental raol .hars 33t() the lower f portionthereof7 and engagethese rack hars `Withi "gears 34, rigidly .nioiinted .iipon: a YtransverseY shaft 35iwhichiiii'ay.- he turned hy a crank-3. .Rotatahle Within the casingfor drinn "30 is a centrifugal fan: Bil. eiiibodying longitudinal. radialV blades SQwe'Xtending `for siihstantiallyhthe entire lengtlirrot. the drinn. This .tan will draw in -the heatedA air froiiif the ChainherlQ, `through the openendsotthe drinn, andfdisoharge .Ltlie sainevloy centrifugal iioreeyontwardly, ,through the elongated slot or opening 32, .into-the' ifear'eiid ott-he chamber il. .This anaenihodies Va transverse.- shatt, .hav-

Li roVide-.sli-des 'fo eratinefA across the lows and beneath the opening' 9.9, isla rotatable or cireiiinterentially' adjustable cylindrical easing' or drain 80, `the ends of which. are spaced trein the side ner portion eens to aiigiilarly'rad- I .into the.

v4n'ioistiireV thoroughly distributed within the saine lier.

4lia-ct lthatrthe taiili, produces a radial ein ingva pnlley? nioiintedthereon',` for tiiiii-. ingrat. Thisvpulleyniayhe.driven hyvaiiy yisiiitahle..nieans,1 .as 1s obvious.

opening-29, and adapted to Wholly or coni'- pletely cover the opening when desired.

'These slides niay he employed to regulate the yoliiiiie of air passing troni the` tan, it desired, and when the slides are entirely open, and-theian is still, the iiiaohiiie may .heiisedsiiiiply hy allowing the natural c`iieiilatioii of the heated air, without the use oi enforced feed. The slides B8 inay also he adjusted to direct the heated air toward either side oi tliedrying oliaiiiljer.

The operatioii of the apparatus is as .tol-

her. VVln Figure l, the Vtrays are-.shown as originally plaeediifitliin the drying apparatus. .As the `ripper trays are pushed downwardlytoward the lower end ot the apparatus. they inaycoiitaet with the' lower the apparatiie. lt isnot vessential thatthe .spaces hetiveenthe trays in e'aeli` set `hcpreserved, assatisi"aetory resnltsaie obtainable hy having tlie'tiays in each set. contadini.: Vwith each other. However,should it he de- `sired to inaintain the .trays iii eaehtet iii .Csiiaced relation, siiitahle spacing yelements {.iiot-y hewn) niayl hwarranged iipoii i the tracks, between the trays 17min each set. lilith the fan VSrl rotatiiie',` the heated air :treinthex ohaiiihiei` l2 'lloreed iipivardly roer end. ot `the eliaiiiher il, in iviroxiinity .to the lrear end of the tracks therein. .The angularity of this discha M oi air, may be adjiistedhy turning; the drinn 30. as explained.' The traelrs terminate a: points spaced. troni` the opposite ends ot `the heating chamber,` and heziee provide open spaces at these points. Thisheated Aa ir now passes'longitiidinallyI ot the dry' whereby the circulation inayihe` continuons,

as desired. The faiiQYfservesto `1 agitatal and inizi theair, wvlierehy the heat and contained therein, ivill he prior to its discharge intothedryingreliain- Particular z attention `is called yto the rent 01:' air, lia-ving a lengtheziteiidiiig siihstantiallyfl throughont thel entire length ot the trays7 whereby all portionsof thetrays aresiihjeetedtofa substantial iifniiorinlieating action.

and the trays aieftliiis ted through llt) lili) It is to be understood that the form orP my to be taken as a preterredenample ot the` same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement ot parts, may b resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope ot the snbjoined claims.

Haring thus described l claim is:

l. EL trait drier comprising a casing, means dividing the casing into an upper drying chamber and a lower heating chamber, heating means within the lower heating chamber, a blower mechanism arranged between the heating chamber and drying chamber and including a rotatable drum havng a longitudinal discharge opening leading into the drying chamber, a centri'tngal tan rotatable within the drum, and means to turn the drum upon its longitudinal anis.

my invention, what 2. A i fruit drier comprising a casing,

may be angularly adjusted, and means for supporting the fruit to be dried within the drying chamber. p

f5. ri. trait drier comprising a easing` means Vtorv dividing the casing'into an upper drying chamber and a lower heating chamber. heating means within the lower heating chamber, a'drnm pivotally supported near the rear end vot the heating chamber and receiving heated air therefrom through its ends said drum having a longitudinal slot 'tor discharging-the heated air into the end of the upper drying chamber, a rotary fan mounted within the drum, means to turn the drmn upon its longitudinal anis, tray supporting means within the drying chamber, and outlet means tor the drying chamber.1

el., A trnit drier comprising a casing,

means for dividing the casing into an upper drying chamber and a lower heating chamber, heating means within the lower heating chamber, a. drum supported near the rear end et the heating chamber and receiving heated air therefrom through its ends, said drum having a longitudinal slot extending tor substantially the width ol. the upper drying chamber, a rotatable tan within the drum embodying blades extending longitudinally within said drum, means to drive the tan, trnit supporting means within the drying chamber, and air outlet means for the drying chamber.

il trait drier comprising a easing, means tor dividing the same into an upper dr; ing` chamber and a lower heating chamber. said dividing means having an opening at the rear ends ot said chambers, a torce toed blower mechanism arranged adjacent to said opening tor discharging heated air from the heating chamber into the drying chamber, means for partly or wholly covering said opening, heating means arranged within the heating chamber, fruit supportingl means within the drying chamber, and

i outlet means tor thedrying chamber.

" i nt drier comprising a casing, the easing for supporting f dried, a drum extending transv ,ir the casing near one end thereof ill vers` and having a longitudinal opening, a rotary n within the drum means to turn the drum longitudinal axis, means for suphea ted air to the drum, and air outl let means for the casing.

i. fruit drier comprising a casing, meantA tor dividing the yasing into an upper drying chamber and a lower heating chamber with an opening between corresponding ends there-ot, heating means within the heating chamber, a tan within the heating chamber to mir the air therein, fruit snpporting means within the drying chamber, and air outlet. means tor the drying chamber adapted to discharge a portion ot the air to the atmosphere or a portion oiE it back into the heating chamber.

Y ln testimony whereof l atiix my signature,

VVALTL'R El, SOLLE. 

